Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-12-15
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.


The Secretary OF War Discusses Matters
Pertaining tn His Department. and Makes
Some Recommendation.
WASHINGTON, Dec. THE annual report
81 the Secretary Of War, transmitted to
Congress Yesterday. shows that the ex-
penditures made by the department during
the last fiscal year amounted to 81. $50, TO.
The estimates for the next fiscal year sg-
gregate 0333S, 40 against an appropriation
for the current year of $31, O59, 3g. The in
crease is caused by the incorporation OF an
estimate of g., $50 Isl for public works, in
GLIDING river and harbor improvements,
the expenditures on this account for the.
current year amounting to only 81 ,3OS 400.
There is also an increase Of about $780,
OO in the estimate for the military estab-.
lishment and the Army and Military
Academy. The Secretary says: 1.-The esti-
mates for salaries and contingent expen-
ses for the fiscal year ended June sc,
1889, are considerably less than the appro-
prlatiOn for the current year. The esti-
mates for the military establishment are
based upon the actual requirements OF the
service. During recent years the appro-
priatiOn for transportation Of the army has
been inadequate to meet the cost of trans
porting the army, and the failure to appro-
pirate funds for that service has caused
much embarrassment and greatly Increased
the labor in settling such accounts. The
estimates for improving rivers and harbors.
represent the probable cost of such in
provements if approved by Congress-"
The report says that the buildings, forti-
fications, public works and grounds in the,
division Of the Atlantic are everywhere in
need of repair and reconstruction. On the
entire Atlantic and Gulf coast line of $50
miles, and the Northern frontier of 2, $50
miles, the sole armament IS 142 rified guns,
OF which 116 are obsolete aud OF very low
power. Even the few serviceable rified
guns that are mounted are but Of little
value. Some of them are mounted on old
carriages and are without adequate protec-
ton. The Secretary refers to- General
SchOfield's recommendation that at least
one eight-inch muzz,e-loading gun, with ap-
pliances tor target practice, one or more Of
the new breech-loadlng guns and mortars
be furnished to each artillery post with Il
view to Improvement of the artillery in
structlon. He says, however. that
the department is unatle TO
comply with the request, as there are no
guns suitable for such large practice and
technical instruction. THIS division is gar
risoned mainly by artillery, four-ffths #
the officers and men of that arm being sta
toned within its limits. In no branch of
the service is technical instruction and
daily experiments and practice i'll the use
Of its weapons more demanded than in the
artillery. 1t is earnestly hoped that if the
guns can not be had for Notifications, APP
preparations can be made for the purchase
or manufacture of enough guns to employ
the artillery and tit them for any emer-
gency.
In the division of the Missouri. during the
past year, says the report, it has been ne
cessary to patrol the Oklahoma country in
the Indian Territory, to keep out intruders,.
and to protect the Indian reservations. A
considerable cody Of troops have been con.
stantly engaged in this duty and there have
been no serious disturbances.
The Secretary strongly approves of the
recommendation contained in General
Sheridan's report touching the extension OF
all possible aid by the General Government
to the National Guard of the different
States and suggesting a system Of National
cncampments for State militia at the entire
expense of the National Government
Attention is called to the fact that the
Pacific coast IS destitute of Notifications,
guns and ornaments of every description,
while San Francisco is without Il single
gun which can be fired with safety with
present charges of powder and modern,
projectles.
Favorable Endorsement is'also given tc
the l. lieutenant Generals recommendation
that the 9Th Of the army be increased
by 5000 men, and particular attention is
called to the importance CT an increase OF
the artillery arm Of the service and certain
changes in the present organization OF ar.
tiilery regiments.
The Secretary suggests that the number
OF court martial TRIALS can be much reduced
if provision be made for the punishment OF
minor offenses without summoning court
martial, AS indicated in the annual report Of
1856.
Little is said on the subject of river and
harbOr improvements, beyond the state
ment that the report Of the Chief of En-
gineers sets forth the condition OF each i'm
prOvement and the amount of work per-
formed during the last tisc,! year. Owing
to the failure Of the las: River and HarboI
bill there has been no money
available for the ascertainment OF the
depth of water and width of channel at the
South Pass of the Mississippi river. and al
Tor the necessary surveys Is
urgently recommended.
In concluding his report the Secretary
says: THE result of the examinations
for promotion under the ClvilService reg
which were applied to the War
Department in May. We're satisfactory.
The total number of clerks examined was
! ,Ol4, OF whom SOB, or % per cent. passed..
and of this number 353 or 81 per cent. OBJ
tanned an average above % per cent. and
fifty-one or five per cent. failed to pass, Their
average being less than IS ger c.ut."